THE MONTHLY BULLETIN, 



719 



Orchard Heating. 



While there are still many problems in connection with orchard heat- 

 ing yet to be solved, it is now generally conceded that, under certain 

 conditions at least, a crop of fruit, citrus or deciduous, can be saved, 

 even though the temperature falls as much as 15° below freezing. Dur- 

 ing spring freezes of four different seasons in Colorado, the writer had 

 abundant opportunity to study the various operations of the orchard 

 heating business in time of action, and the effect of such heating in 

 saving fruit. The first practical demonstration of what could be accom- 

 plished was made in the spring of 1908. Three or four different parties 

 had previously purchased some of the Bolton orchard heaters, which 

 at that time were manufactured in California. By the use of these 

 small lard-pail pots, as they were called, which held about three quarts 

 of oil, these men succeeded in saving a considerable amount of fruit. 

 The demonstration was a perfect one, for only in the heated areas was 

 there any fruit. Before this time there were orchards in California 



Fig. 3S8.^Frost russet band of apples. (Original.) 



where heaters had been used. The Limoneira Company had done con- 

 siderable work along this line, and had used wire liaskets for burning 

 coal with more or less success. The fact that it was possible to save a 

 crop of fruit by burning coal or oil in containers led to the making and 

 patenting of a great many types of heaters, practically any one of which 

 will do the work, provided that the necessary amount of fuel is burned. 

 Both coal and oil have given satisfaction, but the latter is preferred by 

 most orchardists. In California, where oil is so cheap and coal so high, 

 it does not seem as though any one would be justified in purchasing coal 

 heaters. It would not be policy to recommend any particular make of 

 heater in this article. In general, the reservoir type of oil heater is the 

 most satisfactory. One can scarcely afford to purchase heaters and 

 other equipment for the work and then fail because of an insufficient 

 supply of oil. Of course, it is possible to refill small heaters, or to have 

 a reserve supply of them on hand, but such entails extra work and 

 expense at time of heating when it is often hard to get enough help. 



